Jesco von Puttkamer
Keith’s note: Internal NASA memo: “Jesco passed away today at ~11am. He died at home. He had flu like symptoms for the last week. He is survived by his wife Ursula. This was unexpected and a shock to everyone. Ursula is still making plans and will likely want a simple remembrance. Sam will coordinate and we will keep you informed of plans. Jesco was a tremendous representative of NASA. Jesco will be missed. His passing is a reminder to all of us that each day is precious.”
Jesco von Puttkamer – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
“After World War II, during which his family lived in Switzerland, von Puttkamer studied mechanical engineering at Konstanz and the Technische Hochschule (RWTH Aachen) in Aachen, graduating with a university degree. In 1962 he left Germany for the United States, where he joined Wernher von Braun’s rocket team at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama as an engineer during the Apollo Program.”
Keith’s note: It will be some time before the daily ISS Onorbit Status reports appear again. You see, Jesco did these reports every single day for more than a decade. The only time I can recall where there was a hiatus was last year when he was on vacation in Europe and his laptop died. There is an interesting story behind the origin of these reports – it has to do with some things Jim Oberg and I posted and wrote about a long time ago during the problems on Mir and how Congress reacted … Jesco was an unusual link between the Apollo era and today. I am certain that a number of people will post here and elsewhere about his unusually long connection with space exploration – a legacy that many people might not be totally aware of – or totally appreciate. Also, FWIW, he took 30 minutes out of his schedule to talk with a certain young Biology major in late 1975 …
Ad astra, Jesco.
Marc’s note: Video from NASA on the next page.
How many surviving Engineers from the Apollo program?
Fewer every day….
Jesco was really a wonderful person who was more knowledgeable overall than just about anyone on virtually all aspects of the manned space program, and he knew the Russian program in Russian just as well as he knew the US program.
His interest began at an early age as a grammar school student and he wrote a letter to his boyhood hero, von Braun. Von Braun encouraged his studies throughout high school and college and they traded letters frequently. When Jesco finished college he told von Braun about his intent to go into industry in Germany. Von Braun sent him a letter and asked him to come to Huntsville instead.
Some years ago there was a discussion about having someone else take over writing of the ISS Status Reports because some managers felt Jesco’s information was too detailed and too frequent. I don’t think they ever found anyone who could keep up with Jesco and so he kept on writing the reports.
“some managers felt Jesco’s information was too detailed and too frequent.”
Oh god, those types. They’re everywhere.
You have to ‘admire’ NASA’s recognition of a departed colleague’s efforts – if you visit the “Current ISS On-Orbit Status Report”, here’s what they’ve posted …
“Due to technical reasons the report is currently not available but will resume ASAP.”
What an insensitive and classless organization …
They have time to make party videos on the taxpayer’s dime, but not enough time to craft a web notice that recognizes WHY the ISS On-Orbit Status Report is not available?
As you say, classless.
Hey guys, Jesco died over the Holidays when virtually everyone was on vacation. Forst day back at work and the page has already been updated and now says:
Jesco von Puttkamer, author of the ISS On-Orbit Status Report for more than a decade, passed away on Dec. 27, 2012. He was 79. The reports will not be published while NASA determines how best to proceed with presenting the information that had been captured. For more information about von Puttkamer, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/…
Nice to see the proper recognition … kudos to the web folks who quickly corrected a sad faux pas.
How sad – he was still so lively and active; fortunately, he died doing what he loved, supporting human space exploration. Jesco will be missed. I recall once, during the first von Braun symposium in Huntsville, he spoke of how the old von Braun team would go to a local Mexican place after a long work day to recall their days in Texas after the war. That night, I wound up at the same restaurant and I noticed Jesco at a table, by himself,looking around the surroundings, no doubt reminiscing of his younger days on the Apollo program. Rest well.
His reports on ISS were standard fare for my reading list for a very long time….
Good job Jesco……
Unvergessen, wie er Sigmund Jähn in einer Fernsehdiskussion zurechtgewiesen hat. Da er kein Politiker war, tat es dies auch in erfrischender Offenheit. Danke für Alles!
Mein Beileid und liebe Grüße aus Hamburg
Marc Burger
A life well lived. Jesco was very involved in fostering and extending the linkages between the NASA and Star Trek communities, and was very involved providing scientific advice and encouragement in the late seventies when the franchise was revived as a motion picture series. So thanks for that too, Jesco.
I recall his articles laying out roadmaps to our future in space in the JBIS. He was a visionary in an age where such are rare. Bon voyage.
In the early years, he provided expert commentary of shuttle launches on German TV. What an inspiration he has been! First time I met him in person was in 1994 at a science conference. He could not and would not hide his passion for the Agency and for human spaceflight during our informal chats (in German) at HQ over the course of the last six years. He *will* be missed.
Farewell JvP
Arik Posner
Jesco was an amazing gentleman – brilliant, untiring, quick to smile and spark one in others, ever giving of himself, and a good friend. He helped me in many ways throughout my career and always brightened my day with his bubbly enthusiasm. He was also a tireless supporter through the tough times of Shuttle-Mir and the early operations of ISS.
On one occasion late in 2001 when I was feeling down about the struggle to hold the team together, Jesco called me to tell me about a fun evening he had enjoyed while on vacation in Switzerland. He was giving a public talk at a time when ISS was flying over so he took the whole group out into the frigid air of the hotel parking lot to see it. He narrated the event, giving details of the vehicle and assembly process, and captivating the crowd.
There will not be another Jesco. He leaves behind an amazing life well lived, an indelible mark on history, and a large and appreciative list of friends, including me. He will long be missed.
The most amazing thing about what Mr. Puttkamer says in this video is the fact, well documentated elsewhere, that he recived a telegram from Dr. von Braun in 1960 that said to come to the US and join the team because, as von Braun put it, “were going to the moon.” That was before Gagarin, before Mecury and before President Kennedy put the nation on the road to the moon.
The men of vision knew where we were going!
Where are we going today?
KLC